Have you wondered why many Southeast Asian countries are fast catching up with (or by now probably surpassing) the Philippines in a lot of aspects, including sports?
Photos from Cambodia 2023 SEA Games Facebook page
They plan early and get things done ahead of time.
Just take a look at Cambodia.
The 31st edition of the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam has yet to happen in late this year, and yet Cambodian sports officials are ready with the official logo and the stadium that will serve as the main hub of the 32nd SEA Games, which Phnom Penh is hosting in 2023.
That’s more than two years from now.
Cambodia’s main stadium for the 2023 biennial meet is reportedly 95 percent complete.
In a latest post on its official social media page, Cambodia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC) officials inspected the venue, named the Techo National Stadium and found that it’s 95 percent done, with the full completion expected on May 31.
The official logo and slogan for the 2023 SEA Cambodia Games was formally unveiled on August 7, 2020 following the official approval of the design by the organizing committee.
Cambodia’s preparations began even before the December 2019 SEA Games, hosted by eventual overall champion Philippines.
The organizing committee held a design the logo and mascot competition for Cambodia citizens.
The winning logo has the famous Angkor Wat and four dragons as its main motifs. Angkor Wat is a world-renowned Buddhist temple, inspired by Khmer architecture and has become Cambodia’s national symbol.
The winning designs for the mascots are two rabbits wearing Cambodian attire. The one wearing red is a female named Rumduol, while the male in blue is named Borey.
Why so much fuss about the logo?
The SEA Games logo serves as the face and heart of the regional competition in this part of Asia. Remember how the import-designed 2019 Philippine SEA Games’ logo was maligned by local artists and bashed by netizens in social media?
Nevertheless, the logo stayed and the issue was overshadowed by the victorious feat of Team Philippines.
Meantime, the raging Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down the training of athletes of some Southeast Asian nations, including Philippines, for the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.
Vietnam though is ready for its 2021 hosting. And so is Cambodia. In 2023.